Traffic was blocked off along a polluted main road in Bow Common so enthusiasts could hold a ‘clean air’ festival, of all things.

Balancing speed with comfort... using a set of wheels to get around town. Picture source: Poplar Harca

Volunteers have been monitoring carbon pollution along St Paul’s Way for several weeks, gathering air samples for analysis.

But they got the busy thoroughfare blocked off for the afternoon for Saturday’s Clean Air Day which attracted 1,000 people to St Paul’s Way Festival, with music, spoken word performances, crafts and health pop-ups by environmental groups.

Attractions to promote greener and sustainable travel included skating workshops by East London Skaters, green turf and temporary planting by Public Works, bike repairs by Tower Hamlets Wheelers and discussions on air quality in Poplar and Bow by environment groups like Friends of the Earth and Reclaiming Streets.

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